Evaluation on the Efficiency of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Malmquist in Different Regions of China

Water-energy-food (W-E-F) nexus is an essential element for human survival, as well as the basis for the sustainable development of regional economy and ecological environment. Water resource is an important input element of energy production and food production, which makes the W-E-F nexus become closer and more complicated. Taking water resource as the main input variable and grain as the output variable, and taking water resource and grain consumption as the main input variable and energy output as the output variable, the W-F and W/F-E coupling efficiency evaluation index system was constructed. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Malmquist index model, the W-E-F coupling efficiency of 31 regions in China from 2007 to 2016 was evaluated from static and dynamic perspectives. In view of the low comprehensive efficiency in most areas, this paper gives corresponding strategies and suggestions.